A Far, Far Better Place

A Far, Far Better Place by Anita Stansfield

Well you already know my opinion about having a police type in the book.  Anita couldn't have chosen a better character.  She did not however take my advice and make him normal.....meaning, living on the wages the state feels inclined to drizzle his way.  Ah, but he is so manly no matter his independent wealth.

Former Agent Jackson Leeds and his wife Chas run a little B&B.  Jackson and Chas are hap, hap, happy with their little inn and their little baby Charles.  Ah, but Stansfield can't let a good thing carry on for long.  Jackson's semi estranged mother dies.  Jackson promises her as she lay dying, to forgive his abusive father (who is also dead).  The anger and hurt that Jackson has always felt for his father bubbles to the surface as his mind and heart refuse to forgive the evil doings.  His intense feelings merge with the PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) that he suffers from due to being kidnapped and tortured as an FBI agent.  Jackson must find away to forgive his father so that his humble life with Chas can continue.

Sometimes I feel like Stansfield uses the same situations with new faces.  I would have to admit that this book is a type of many of her other books.  I did enjoy that she carefully illustrated being a strong, tolerant, loving and supportive spouse.  Chas never even seemed like she wanted to bust a cap in Jackson even though I am sure he was hard to deal with.  She also does a good job of weaving in gospel principles in a way that you can see how they would work in a regular person's life (regular except for the fact that Jackson is always at home to help with the baby and dishes......er getting way from myself).  Besides PTSD, which I found interesting, Stansfield's story centered on forgiveness.  How we all like to hold those grudges close to our hearts and cling on to them by digging in our fingernails!  She was able to show more than one side of the damage, and by doing so, how forgiveness is really for the forgiver.  Letting go of that rubble we pack around can be for us, not just the one we forgive.

Rating 3.5
Rating PG.....the kissing in the night, I am sure lead to sex between a married couple...but that was only insinuated.

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Macabre......ugh, I love that word.  It says so many things.  It smells sweet like dead leaves.  To say I was stoked to read this book.....so beautiful with a headstone on the cover, is an understatement.  Sadly, so sadly I ended up reading it in snippets.  That is a horrible, horrible way to read anything except a text book.  I like to devour my books.  I digress.......I read it in snippets while I struggled everyday not to hate the school system and the State social workers while I sat behind my desk furtively feeding a child that came to school hungry.  Sorry, I am flashing back and possibly sideways.  I did not saturate myself in the book in a way that the book was due.  So my take on it may not be very honest.

It turned out to be exceedingly witty and crafty.  Bod's (short for Nobody) family was murdered when he was yet an infant.  He was lucky enough to toddle from the house and into the nearest graveyard.  This is where the little tyke ended up living out his childhood, protected and raised by ghosts.  Could there be a better story?  There were times I felt the chill of the graveyard.  I was comforted by the ghostly relationships.  There were thought provoking moments.  I could clap!

Yet, I am not going to give this book a 5.  If I per chance had read this in a better state of mind....or in one sitting, I may have felt more immersed and connected.  This is possibly not Gaiman's fault....but this is the place where my opinion counts....so....

Rating 4
Rating PG  I didn't find it terrifying.  There was murder.  I don't recall any sexual aspects (it has been at least a month since I read this book) and there were some scary-ish happenings since it was about ghosts and partially living beings.

Uglies

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

In the future world that Tally lives in, everyone becomes pretty.  At age sixteen all of the Uglies (genetically normal without help of cosmetic surgery) get their chance under the knife and ta da......Pretty.  Science has determined what is attractive to the eye.  Once you are gorgeous, you move to the Pretty side of town, where you basically party till you drop.
Tally's sixteenth birthday is upon her.  Just as Tally is about to receive the surgery she has been dying for, when she meets Shay.  Shay is another Ugly that teaches Tally there is another way than Pretty.  Tally runs away from the only society that she ever knew existed.  She enters a world where people are genuine.  Tally learns that turning Pretty might be more than skin deep.......it could also alter who you are.

Loved the idea of this book.  It did take me forever and a day to read because I've been tied up.  I can't decide if it was the speed with which I read it or that it was actually just meh.  It was a little lack luster for me.  It could have been seriously meaty, but somehow I felt nothing for the characters.  The traveling parts were boring.  This book is a trilogy and if I get around to it I might read the next two.  I wanted it to be awesome and it just wasn't. 

Rating 3
Rating PG  Very clean book considering the target audience is creamed with sex lately.  I think there may have been a few kisses and a knock on the head.